19 replies to this topic

[Jim Dixon]

I'm looking at a 125mm MCT, literally looking it.  It was donated to my club.  There is no information on it, not even diameter, focal length, or ratio. The tube is matte white with a spiral pattern in it.  The OTA is 13.5 inches long not counting the visual back.  Does any of this sound familiar? I'm hoping someone has had one that fits the description and might suggest a manufacturer.  thanks

[SchoolMaster]

Post a pic?

[kgb]

I immediate thought IntesMicro, but I believe those were gloss white. Can you post a pic?

[MisterDan]

The spiral pattern - to me - suggests a fiber/paper-based tube, which further suggests a custom/build-your-own design.  I don't recall any retail-market Maksutovs utilizing a fiber tube, but it's possible that a rare and/or short-lived Maksutov - perhaps from the '60s - did so.

 

May I ask:  is the 125mm measurement taken from the meniscus corrector? or the outside diameter of the optical tube?

 

Of course, ANY images would help.  If you're unsure how to post an image here, I'd be happy to post one from my end (if you're willing/able to forward image(s) to me).  If so, feel free to send me a message, and I'll see what I can do.

 

Best wishes and luck.

Dan

[maroubra_boy]

I too am thinking an Intes because of the "spiral pattern in it", but without pics it is impossible to say. Pics of the tube, front & rear are needed.

[photoracer18]

The Russians only supply metal tubes. In general if it has a white or off-white tube the caps, cells, finder, and focuser will be black metal. Only difference is the models sold by Orion were all black. Russian word for telescope translates to "Alter". I worked for a dealer of the scopes. Picture please. If the tube is not metal its not Russian.

Edited by photoracer18, 26 May 2023 - 01:51 PM.

[Jim Dixon]

I've heard back from the person who donated it.  He doesn't know the origins either but he put contact paper on a dark blue metal tube. Did a good job too because I didn't notice a seam or overlap or any giveaway that it was contact paper.  Dark blue makes me think Meade but he said there were no markings on the blue tube either.  I measured the clear meniscus not outside to outside and it was right around 125mm.  I'm going to assume for now it's a Meade. Nothing wrong with that, by all accounts they make good Maks.

[MisterDan]

Early Skywatcher Maks were blue.  Here are two links to two variants of past Skywatcher 127s:

https://www.ianmoris...2-127-large.jpg

("siblings" to the Orion Apex/Starmax)

 

https://www.cloudyni...back/?p=3068640

(more "massive" front cell and tailpiece, similar to Celestron's recent Maks)

 

A darker blue tube may indeed indicate Meade, but I would then expect "Meade" to be engraved and visible on the bezel/retaining ring surrounding the meniscus.

 

I don't recall Antares marketing a 127, but they may have.

 

Beyond the painted or adhesive branding/logos on the optical tubes, there were essentially no identifying texts or graphics on most Maks such as these.

 

Cheers.

Dan

Edited by MisterDan, 26 May 2023 - 03:12 PM.

[Wildetelescope]

Post a pic?

Picture?  That will help.  

 

JMD

[luxo II]

Not Intes or Intes Micro: the Intes OTAs were machined aluminium tubes, in matte beige. Intes-Micro tubes were rolled and welded sheet steel, painted gloss beige.

 

However I do recall one with a spiral cardboard tube from one of the Chinese optical plants, in the early 2000’s. It’s probably fine as long as the OTA is in good condition.

Edited by luxo II, 26 May 2023 - 04:40 PM.

[Echolight]

Every Meade I've ever seen had description on the Miniscus retainer ring.

[Jim Dixon]

Here's a picture of it with the aluminum back removed.  Looking in the rear cell I realized there were collimation screws behind it. Another image is a close up of the screws.  How are you supposed to collimate that with the back off?  There is no where for an eyepiece.  The central baffle appears to be threaded both inside and back,

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[luxo II]

It is incomplete.

Edited by luxo II, 26 May 2023 - 06:48 PM.

[SchoolMaster]

Are you sure it's a 125mm?

[maroubra_boy]

A pic of the corrector is essential. Need to see inside it too. An Intes Mak will have a set of baffle rings running down the inside of the OTA & a characteristic secondary assembly if it is a Rumak type of Mak, as examples of identifying features.

Edited by maroubra_boy, 26 May 2023 - 10:21 PM.

[luxo II]

This is junk - it is not a russian mak, the focuser screw is wrong, the mirror cell is wrong, and so is the OTA. 

 

It's a cheap chinese effort and several parts are missing thanks to someone who has futzed with it - starting with the backend for an eyepiece, and the focuser knob, at the writing on the backend.

 

Leave it alone - it is probably destined for the trash as it's not worth the materials, or someones time to start with the glass and machine the parts for it. Cheaper to buy a new one. It is unfortunately sad in some respects that the price of new consumer-grade scopes of this sort is so low it's not worth repairing an old one, and they are effectively now consumables.

 

The point of the premium ones - Questar, AP, TEC, Ceravolo and the Russian ones is that their optical quality is very high and for the most part the coatings last very well - though I have seen one with failed coatings. Only if complete and in very good condition they are valuable. Missing parts or in poor shape, forget it or part it out.

Edited by luxo II, 26 May 2023 - 11:34 PM.

[RichA]

Here's a picture of it with the aluminum back removed.  Looking in the rear cell I realized there were collimation screws behind it. Another image is a close up of the screws.  How are you supposed to collimate that with the back off?  There is no where for an eyepiece.  The central baffle appears to be threaded both inside and back,

Rear looks a little like an industrial Q7 I had.

[Jim Dixon]

Here are a couple pictures of the front. The person who donated it says it is way out of collimation and if there is no practical way to do that I'm inclined to put it back together and put it back. 

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[maroubra_boy]

So you have taken some of it apart? What have you pulled off?

Collimation would be done via the three pairs of screws on the rear cell.

Ok, it isn't an Intes. It could still be a nice little Mak. But if you have removed stuff from it, it makes any identification very difficult.

[chris charen]

My white tubed Meade ETX 125 Wegat looks very similar. [Stock photo, mine is identical].

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Edited by chris charen, Today, 02:36 AM.